Lima Locos’ Diego Gines fields a grounder during Thursday night’s game against the Royal Oak Leprechauns at Simmons Field. See more Locos photos at LimaScores.com.
Richard Parrish | The Lima News
LIMA — Back-to-back wins.
Lima has not done that since the opening series but accomplished that feat after the Locos downed Royal Oak, 5-1, Thursday.
With the victory, Lima takes the series and improves to 6-3 overall. Royal Oak falls to 3-6.
“After Monday, it was a little tough so two good bounce back wins to win the series,” Locos skipper Matt Furuto said. “We just have to keep it rolling because we have a whole new team tomorrow and a whole new series so we need to keep it going and play good baseball and if we can do that we can compete.”
Loco starter Matt Gauer, who picked up the win, put in a strong outing in his second start of the season. The Indiana State product went five innings, limiting the Leprechaun batters to two hits and fanning eight while walking none.
Gauer threw 78 pitches with 58 being for strikes and the lone run scored was unearned.
“Matt was great,” Furuto said. “He had multiple pitches for strikes and he did a good job of getting ahead and using his pitches to get ahead.”
In relief, Jacob Newman (Samford) went two innings, giving up no runs on one hit with three strike outs and one walk. Cade Kline pitched the eighth and yielded no hits, one walk and no runs. Elida product Brayden Lyberger (Indiana State) pitched the final frame and gave up two hits, a walk while striking out two.
“All our pitchers did a great job,” Furuto said. “All of them came in and threw strikes and held them and the only run we gave up we gave them.”
Royal Oak starter Chris Schmees went five innings and gave up five hits and three runs with two being unearned. He struck out two and walked two and hit two batters.
Offensively, the Locos bats continue to make the most of its opportunities with some hits and being aggressive on the base paths. The Locos had seven hits but made them count and also took advantage of several Leprechaun fielding miscues and four free passes.
The Locos also recorded three stolen bases and left 10 base runners stranded.
“We are still getting guys on and still figuring out ways to get them in,” Furuto said. “Thankfully we got enough to get those in the middle innings and extend the lead and give us a little more comfortable but I think we still have to get more comfortable at that. We are getting guys on but have to score them.
Locos’ Diego Gines (Indiana State) went 2 for 4 with two runs, an RBI and a stolen base. Clay Jacobs (Edison State) was 2 for 4 with a run and Jayden Davis 2 for 4 with an RBI.
Lima got the bats going early and scored in the bottom of the first to go up 1-0.
With one out, Diego Gines (Indiana State) and Brennan Norton (Jacksonville State) had base hits and Gines put himself on third with a stolen base. Gines then came home on a fielder’s choice out from the bat of Carson Garner Murray State), eliminating Norton at second.
Royal Oak tied in the fourth, 1-1, on a throwing error.
Lima regained the lead with two runs in the fift. Despite not getting a hit, the Locos loaded the bases when Gines, with one out, was hit by a pitch and Norton followed with a walk Gardner then reached base on an error. Cade Sadler (Kennesaw State) brought home Gines on a sacrifice fly to the second baseman in foul territory.
Lima then tacked on its second run of the frame whenDavis delivered a bloop single that plated Norton.
Lima added to its lead in the sixth with two runs. The first run came when Jacobs reached first on an error with one out. Isaiah Velaszco drew a walk to put runners on first and second and then Gines delivered a single to bring home Jacobs. Velazco, standing on third, came home on a fielder’s choice for the second run.
